The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday held its 100th National Executive Committee meeting (NEC) and reinstated Senator Samuel Anyanwu as its National Secretary
The PDP acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, who briefed journalists after the meeting, said the next NEC meeting would be held on July 23.
Before now, Anyanwu and Sunday Udeh-Okoye were laying claim to the PDP national secretary position.
He said: “As you can see, we just rose from our 100th NEC meeting. This meeting was a one-agenda meeting, which was to discuss the outcome of our interaction with INEC as regards the national secretary.
“We all combined efforts. We were all together and we all agreed that Senator Anyanwu will continue to act as national secretary and to bring the issue of convention to the next NEC, which is slated for July 23.
“At that time, we will be able to convene a proper NEC where myself and Anyanwu will sign a notice to fulfill the regulatory requirement of INEC in convening meetings.”
Damagum said that contrary to the expectations of detractors that the meeting would end in crisis, PDP remained the only party with a mechanism to solve its internal crisis.
“You can see that all our governors attended the meeting; all members of the NWC are on the same page. You will not be seeing all these press releases and counter-press releases,” he added.
Speaking earlier at the commencement of the meeting, Damagum had advised PDP leaders and members to stop de-marketing the party.
“If you so much love this party, I think it is now time for you to devote your energy in propagating the beauty of the party.
“Stop de-marketing the party unless you are one of those who have been contracted to come and destroy our party. I want to say it clearly here, enough is enough,” he warned.
The chairman reminded PDP leaders that they have a responsibility to the party.
In his remark, the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Adolphus Wabara, said the party would never die.
He commended PDP National Working Committee (NWC) members for coming together once again and urged them not to allow detractors again.
“What is happening here today will shock so many people. I’m sure they will start planning again to bring problems.
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“NWCs don’t allow a crack anymore, because once they have seen us now coming together, they will say: ‘what happened?'” he said.
The Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, described the ability of the party to hold the 100th NEC meeting as a “miracle of PDP, a party with pedigree to lead Nigeria.”
Mohammed said the defections were created to distract the party, adding that the party leaders remained steadfast.
“I must tell the world that the NWC has collapsed all differences, all wrangling. What you are seen in terms of conflicting press releases has stopped. You will not see them again. We are all on the same page,” the governor stated.
The meeting was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Muftwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintri (Adamawa), and Duoye Diri (Bayelsa).
Also at the meeting were former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former PDP Secretary, Prof. Jerry Gana, BoT Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi, former Governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson, and former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom.
Others were Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, the National Vice-Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Iyom Josephine Anenih, Sunday Ude-Okoye, Ben Obi, and former Deputy National Chairman (South), Chief Bode George.
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